Story by Brock Ormond
Photo: Wellington Dukes/OJHL Images
The Wellington Dukes found a late surge to dispatch the Pickering Panthers 6-1 in their OJHL season opener on Sunday night.
The Prince Edward County junior hockey club blew a close game open with four third period goals in a solid road effort, led by Ben Vreugdenhil’s three points.
The new-look Dukes benefited from an early powerplay on the Frankford native’s marker, getting his stick on a long shot from Riley Noble at the 3:42 mark of the first.
Ryan Schaap added the second assist on Wellington’s first goal of the season, before powering his way out of the corner and tucking the puck under Gavin Betts’ right pad to up the lead to 2-0 at 11:45.
Zander Latreille and Jared McNeil were credited with helpers.
Jack Lisson made a couple of big stops to hold the fort, until Pickering broke through on a Joseph Crngarov powerplay marker with more than three minutes to go in the second frame.
The newest Duke came in clutch on his old stomping grounds 8:45 into the third, as Zach Mascard popped his first goal with the team after just recently being acquired from the Panthers.
That tally fuelled the Dukes to score three more times in just under three minutes, with the goals coming courtesy of three more newcomers.
North Royalton, Ohio’s Logan Klaiber snaked a point shot through Betts from Cole Ellis and Tyler Tsoukalas, followed by Ben Pouliot sliding home Wellington’s fifth marker from McNeil.
Ellis finished the scoring with his first as a Duke from Vreugdenhil and Zack Carrier.
Lisson finished with 28 saves in a game where Wellington outshot Pickering 40-29.
The Dukes will make their first appearance on Lehigh Arena ice this season Friday against the Toronto Jr. Canadiens at 7:30 p.m.
